The 2020 season may not be a year that Queensland fans want to remember, even if they play an Origin series or not.
There is an increasing likelihood of no fans at any of the games.
Fans are what make any Origin series a religion for Queenslanders. Games played at Suncorp Stadium are always at fever pitch in a state that is mad about rugby league, at least while the series is being played.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
The gloss will be off the series this year, meaning the TV ratings may well be off again this year.
Game 3 of the 2019 State of Origin series only amassed 1.77 million viewers. It’s hard to imagine Queenslanders being overly fussed by a series that they may not be able to attend.
The hype around any game at Suncorp Stadium is amazing. My time living in Queensland was a true eye opener as to how much of a religion Origin is in Queensland.
The locals have a passion for this three-game series of rugby league, which New South Welshmen just don’t have.
New South Welshmen love the series, yes. However, they are pretty indifferent whether the Blues win, lose or draw.
It is unlikely any games will be played in Brisbane during the pandemic, with possibly a three-game series based and played in Sydney.
Especially after the season, the games would be played in the heat of a Brisbane late spring, which also needs to be taken into consideration as to where and when the Origin series will be played, if at all.
Only time will tell if the season ends prematurely again or is abandoned completely.
The game needs to go on, however this year the fever pitch is unlikely to occur in Queensland over the Origin series.
GenEnright
Roar Rookie
I would have thought with the cancellation of Magic Round this year, that at least one Origin game in Queensland would generate fever pitch, even if in pubs or in the lounge room. The Queensland Premier has also given her approval to host one game in Brisbane: https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/05/01/pm-yet-to-give-official-approval-for-nrls-may-28-return/ Even with her initial reluctance to greenlight the NRL's return, I don't think she'd give away 3 games to Sydney that easily!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
1995 was a pretty good year The first game of 1994 was nice as well We had our moments around the turn of the millennium but that game in 2000 where nsw scored 56 points and did the grenade celebration after the try, my god that sucked. Was practically sackcloth and ashes up here at the time
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Hahaha bugger. Had you picked for a Victorian :laughing:
Wayne Bambury
Guest
Kudos to you for answering peoples comments. I have been to soo games in qld as well as Nsw and the atmosphere in qld is unreal. The closeness of the ground to the city I think helps. Homebush certainly does not have the same ambience of Caxton street but soo is between 2 states. Both states fans care. Hope 2020 series continues the great tradition
Nat
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing: That's your best yet! Damn you fella!!
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
From 1990 to 2005 I know from experience you guys were not happy at all :happy:
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"....I feel Qlders really take our team as if they were family..." ....and with the amount of 'genetic relatedness' in Qld they probably all are! :laughing:
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I think for anyone from queensland who follows league and watches SOO the meaning of it is always going to be there - sticking it to NSW is not something that fades in the heart of your average Queenslander! I do disagree though that it doesn't mean as much to NSW - I'd argue instead that I think their fans maintaining the faith through a decade of series losses shows how much commitment they really have. Would be interesting see how much care factor would still be there if it was QLD losing 12 out of 13 series. Hopefully I never have to find that out, 3 years in a row was bad enough. In terms of how tribal and raw the passion for Origin is in QLD, I don't doubt it's become a bit more sanitised since the heady days of the 80's and 90's off the field, but I think the underlying desire to see NSW get taken down is very much still there. Personally I'm far more interested in how Origin will be received given it is going to be played as a standalone series at the end of the season. I have been wishing for something like this for years, I have never really been a fan of SOO squatting in the middle of the regular season, because it is a huge distraction while it is ongoing, not to mention distorting the season through player unavailability, injury etc. So I think having it as a standalone event will mean even more focus on it, since there's no other league ongoing. Will be looking forward to it regardless of where it's played and how many fans it's being played in front of.
Chris
Guest
Remember mate it was QLD legends who said Origin was dead after NSW won 4 out of 5 years
Paul
Roar Guru
I get where you're coming from but I'm very confident the big games late in the year will have crowds. Granted nothing like what they've had in previous years, but still better than no-one at all. It'll certainly be strange watching the start of the Melbourne Cup with only a fraction of the usual patrons.
Caleb Spicer
Roar Rookie
Hi Sporacle I too have watched an Origin from Noccundra pub in 1989 great spot and yes tiny bar and great part of the world.
The Sporacle
Roar Rookie
Got the info from the SMH the article stated that it was the second most viewed program of the year behind SOO 1 that's what I went off, SMH stated close to 2 million viewers on average. I remember the game very well, watched from the Noccundra pub in far SW Qld, in a tiny bar full of Queenslanders, how sweet it was.
Caleb Spicer
Roar Rookie
Hi Wayne Bambury thanks for your comment I am a New South Welshman and yes I do believe we have the better team, however based on personal experience it is not the not pitch down south as it is in Queensland.
Caleb Spicer
Roar Rookie
Hi Sporacle, thanks for the comment and yes I love Koolaid, however you need to research the tv ratings for last seasons Game 3.
Caleb Spicer
Roar Rookie
Hi Paul thanks for the comment, my opinion is based on the current cancellation or postponement of major events till next year can you imagine the AFL or Rugby League or even the Melbourne Cup being allowed this year with crowds fluctuating between 80000 to 100000??
Caleb Spicer
Roar Rookie
Hi Dogs Boddy, thanks for the comment I am a New South Welshman, with a family member who played for NSW in the 60s.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
Yes I caught that, but he also doesn't seem to identify as a New South Welshman either. Regardless, still wrong, as still a threepeat for the mighty Blues.
matth
Roar Guru
It actually seemed to me that the author is not a Queenslander, he said “my time living in QLD was a true eye opener “
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I love these “QLD is all heart and NSW don’t care” articles. I’m not sure why they cheer me so, but they do. You are completely wrong of course. Just because we lost a thousand series in a row doesn’t mean they hurt any less. If anything, the hurt deepened as the streak lengthened, which is what has made the last two years all the sweeter. Origin is a juggernaut, it has its own momentum and will continue to build until November. So long as we avoid the dreaded second wave you should have every chance of entering the lottery to win one of the 50 tickets on offer to watch NSW win three in a row :silly:
Nat
Roar Guru
Even as a Qlder, it's harsh to NSW are indifferent to winning, far from it. I can't speak for them but I feel Qlders really take our team as if they were family, not just a representitive team. SOO will never not be important. If V'landys is talking about crowds by July, whether that happens or not by October there is probably a good chance of crowds in some form. Right now, there is no hype around for Origin, just getting NRL started. It will build come closer to time. like idea of this one being after the club season, that way the selectors can pick on true form and not so reliant on (ok) incumbents - Hunt (there I said it). 3 straight weeks of origin discussion that doesn't dilute the season so there are no excuses either way.